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Can babies eat onion?
Onion can be offered once your baby has started solids, prepared to suit their stage.
How to cook onion for a baby
- Method
- Sauté or roast
- Ready in
- 10 Min.
- Texture
- Cooked and blended into dishes
How you cut and serve onion changes as your baby grows. That is set out age by age below.
How to prepare onion, age by age
- 6 to 8 months
- Cook diced onion in a little olive oil until very soft and sweet, then blend into purées.
- 9 to 11 months
- Softly cooked diced onion mixed into mashed vegetables or soups.
- 12 to 17 months
- Soft caramelised or stewed onion as part of a meal — adds sweetness and depth.
- 18 months and over
- Onion in all cooked family meals — stews, soups, sautéed vegetables.
Choking risk
Raw onion is too tough and pungent for babies. Always cook onion thoroughly until soft and sweet. Avoid serving large raw onion pieces at any age.
Watch: How to avoid choking
Is onion an allergen?
Onion is not one of the main food allergens. Any new food can cause a reaction the first time it is offered, so give it on its own and stay with your baby while they eat.
Is onion good for babies?
Onion is a foundational flavouring ingredient that introduces babies to savoury, aromatic tastes early — helping prevent food fussiness. Quercetin, a powerful antioxidant in onions, supports immune health. Cooking onions transforms their pungency into natural sweetness, making them irresistible in baby-friendly savoury dishes.
- Vitamin C
- Folate
- Potassium
- Quercetin
Storing onion
In the fridge
3 Days. Store cooked onion in a sealed glass container
In the freezer
3 Months. Sauté large batches and freeze in portions — a great timesaving base for baby meals
Baby recipes with onion
- Fennel & Lentil Soup
- Ginger Lentil & Onion Dahl
- Beef & Cabbage Hotpot
- Turkey & Broad Bean Casserole
- Onion & Cheddar Scone Bites
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This page is general information based on NHS weaning guidance, not medical advice. Always stay with your baby while they eat. If you have concerns about allergies, choking or your baby's development, speak to your health visitor or GP.